When you think of mold, you probably picture some moss growing on the side of a tree, but the truth is that mold can spread to virtually anywhere moisture is present – indoors or out. In fact, it’s pretty common to find mold growing in your basement, bathroom, and even your refrigerator.

When mold or mildew is growing inside of your fridge, it can contaminate your food. Exposure to mold can cause symptoms such as asthma attacks, sinusitis, and respiratory problems. For the safety of yourself and your family, you should immediately remove mold if you spot it in your refrigerator.

Here’s how:

Remove everything from your refrigerator. Throw away all foods that have expired, come in contact with the mold, and any uncovered foods near the mold. Foods stored in airtight containers that weren’t directly affected are safe to keep.

Remove the shelves and drawers from your refrigerator and place them in your bathtub. Fill the tub with warm water and mix in 1 cup of baking soda. Allow these pieces to soak while you clean the refrigerator.

Combine 1 tablespoon of baking soda (a natural, EPA-approved fungicide) with a quart of warm water in a bowl.

Submerge a wash cloth in the cleaning solution, wring it out, and begin wiping down the interior of your refrigerator. Make sure to get every square inch – the ceiling, back wall, sides, door shelves, gasket, etc. You can use a toothbrush for the hard-to-reach corners. Repeat until all visible traces of mold and mildew are gone.

Empty the baking soda solution and refill the bowl with warm water only. Using a new wash cloth, once again wipe down the inside of the refrigerator. Make sure to repeatedly dip the wash cloth in the water – this effectively rinses the baking soda solution from your refrigerator’s interior.

Empty your bath tub, rinse the drawers and shelves under warm water, and dry them. Dry the interior of your refrigerator and replace everything. Keep an open box of baking soda on the top shelf for the next week or two to help eliminate any remaining odors.

Refrigerator problems such as mold growth can be taken care of at home, but mechanical failures are an entirely different issue. If your refrigerator is making loud noises, leaking, or failing to keep cold, call the experts at Speedy Subzero. We can fix any make or model of refrigerator and we guarantee one-hour service to Long Island and New York City. Our phone lines are always open, so call 866-782-9376 any time to schedule your appointment with one of our certified technicians.